Fine dodgers in the West Midlands face losing their car if they do not pay up.

New powers will allow magistrates' courts to clamp the vehicles of defendants who fail to pay their fines.

If they do not pay within a month, the cars will be sold at auction and used to pay off the debt.

In the West Midlands, there are 150,000 people who have either failed to pay or are behind with fines imposed by courts. Amounts range from #50 to thousands of pounds.

Under the Courts Act 2003, which came into effect on December 12 last year, enforcement officers now have greater powers to claw back unpaid penalties.

Car clamping has been piloted in six areas of the country and resulted in 100 per cent success rate, with everyone targeted paying up.

Martin Hurst, the West Midlands acting fines officer, said car clamping could be used for any unpaid fine imposed after December 12. It is one of several sanctions now at courts' disposal.

"Previously our strongest option was jail, which was obviously unpleasant for the defaulter, but didn't get back the money which was the whole point of the exercise," he said.

"Now each case will be looked at on an individual basis to decide which will be the most effective way of recouping the debt.

"Car clamping will be especially effective where a defendant needs his vehicle for their job - such as taxi drivers or self-employed tradesmen."

Officers will use the DVLA database and Police National Computer to check the car belongs to the defaulter.

Mr Hurst said: "After establishing it is of sufficient value to cover the fine, a private contractor will clamp the vehicle. "They will have 24 hours to pay up and the car will then be removed to storage where the owner will have 30 days to pay or it will be sold at auction."

For the first time courts will also be able to register unpaid fines as a debt which would show up when offenders make applications for loans and credit cards.